NOAA Fisheries Adjusts Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General Category Subquota

NOAA Fisheries has transferred 19.5 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna quota from the 28.9-mt General category December 2021 subquota to the January 2021 subquota period, resulting in a subquota of 49 mt for the January 2021 period and a subquota of 9.4 mt for the December 2021 period. NOAA Fisheries reminds General category participants that when the fishery reopens January 1, 2021, the daily retention limit will be one large medium or giant bluefin tuna (measuring 73” or greater) per vessel per day/trip.

Who is affected?

This action applies to commercial Atlantic Tunas General category permitted vessels and to Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat category permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for bluefin tuna.

Catch reporting

Dealers are required to submit landing reports within 24 hours of receiving bluefin tuna. Late dealer reporting compromises NOAA Fisheries’ ability to implement actions such as quota and retention limit adjustments or fishery closures and may result in enforcement actions.

Separate from the dealer reporting requirement, General category and HMS Charter/Headboat category permitted vessel owners are required to report the catch of all bluefin tuna retained or discarded dead within 24 hours of the landing(s) or end of each trip by:

• Accessing the HMS Permit Shop.
• Using the HMS Catch Reporting app.
• Calling (888) 872-8862 (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.)